ARN keeping mum about KIIS overhaul

With the sudden departure of Melbourne Content Director Sam Thompson earlier in the week, the rumour mill has gone ballistic about major changes to KIIS.

The changes mooted are not confined to just Melbourne where the Herald-Sun reports, “In what is tipped to be a top-to-tail refresh of KIIS in Melbourne, breakfast hosts Matt Tilley and Meshel Laurie are also understood to be signing off, with Jase Hawkins and Polly ‘PJ’ Harding hot favourites to land the high-profile timeslot in 2018.”

It is also believed that the KIIS National Drive show hosts Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek will not return next year either.

In Survey 6, released last week the hotly contested national drive shift had the KIIS offering at number three in audience share across the five metro markets.

Kate, Tim and Marty - NOVA: 11.8

Hamish and Andy (Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little, part) - HIT: 9.4

Hughesy and Kate - KIIS: 9.2

Meanwhile, KIIS 101.1 ranks 7th in Melbourne on a 6.2 share overall, just 0.1 ahead of Triple M. The Breakfast show, close to the station average on 6.1, is in 8th place and last of the six major commercial FM stations.

A spokesperson for ARN refused to comment, other than to say, “We will be making announcements about 2018 very shortly”.